Title: Silent Revelations

Author: Hafthand (Ally)

Rating: M or R which ever you prefer

Summary: A long overdue visit

He walked through the white, stark hallways and tried to ignore the whispering that followed him, the looks cast his way. The occupants of the paintings lining the walls were flying from frame to frame in order to keep up with him. The wizards and witches in the crowded hallways froze as he passed, and whispered to each other when he had gone. Draco Malfoy had come to St. Mungo's. Draco Malfoy was alive.

It was all quite a lot to take in. Rumour had him dead two years ago or at least missing. Yet here he was, in the flesh, though white as a ghost, walking calmly through the hospital's clean hallways leaving a trail of gossip behind him.

Patricia Alabaster shivered, as momentarily, all lights in the ward seemed to dim. She wrapped her shawl around her body tighter and checked the hall, a nervous sense of déjà vu pressing down over her heart. She was rather shocked by the sight of a young wizard walking, or rather stalking quite gracefully, towards her desk, his black robes billowing behind him in quite an impressive way. Patricia Alabaster knew who this young man was. Knew it to the very core of her being. She did not need the family resemblance to know that Draco Malfoy was fast approaching her. No. Ever since that night Mrs. Malfoy had spoken in fear for her sons life, a part of her had been expecting him to materialize in front of her. And here he was now.

'I am looking for Narcissa Malfoy's room,' he said in what could only be described as the Malfoy tone of authority. Oh yes, Patricia Alabaster had heard it before. All these pureblood families were alike. But as her eyes rose to meet his own, she was shocked at the fear she found there. Young Master Malfoy was afraid, and dare she guess, nervous?

'Yes, Master Malfoy, I expect you are,' she said softly, smiling warmly at him. His eyes flickered uncertainly at her unexpected kindness. 'Come young man.' And she motioned for him to follow her.

'Is she well?' she heard him ask tentatively. She allowed a quick smile. So he found her presence comforting did he? He would not have betrayed emotion in his voice if he hadn't. He was too well trained. She had that effect on people. Made her a good nurse.

She stopped before the entrance to his mother's room and turned to regard him. 'As well as can be expected, Master Malfoy.' She saw his eyes harden at her words and realized her error. 'Forgive me, I had forgotten. It's Mister Malfoy now. I apologize,' she said sincerely. She had called him by the title she used for all the young sons of pureblood families. She had forgotten his father had been dead these past few years. Draco was the man of the household now, whatever was left of it.

'It doesn't matter,' he said quickly and almost kindly. 'It is easily forgotten.' And Patricia Alabaster did not know if he meant her slip of words or his father's death.

She smiled up at him again. 'She will be pleased you have come. I daresay she will.' She noticed a small smile of anticipation tug at his thin lips. 'However,' and here she held up a hand to him, 'you must be made aware of her condition. She does not speak Mister Malfoy. And she will, in all likelihood, make no indication that she knows you are there.' She watched to see how the news effected him.

'I am aware of her condition, Madame. I just want to see my mother,' he said his eyes pleading with hers. For what, Patricia Alabaster could not say. The truths this young man held ran deep. She looked him over once more and realized how worn and ragged he actually was. Where had this boy been? What had happened to cause him to come back?

'Alright, Mister Malfoy. This way,' she said softly as she ushered him into the room. 'Mrs. Malfoy, you have a visitor,' she said kindly as she approached the beautiful woman.

'Mother?' Draco whispered quietly. He reached out and stroked her face. Her eyes stayed unfocused and he was positive she had no idea of his presence. 'Oh Mother.' He let out a tired sigh and sat carefully on the side of her bed.

'I will let you two alone,' Patricia said kindly.

'No, no. It's alright. I can't stay long I am afraid. Just wanted to see her, once, before…' but his voice trailed off.

His fingers found there way into her loose hair. He had never seen it down before. She had always been so exact in her appearance. The memories pulled at Draco and he felt himself floating back to various points in his childhood. Seeing his mother as he remembered her brought pain to his heart as he saw her now. She was even paler and thinner than she had ever been. Nothing but skin and bone now, the life and sparkle gone from her eyes.

Patricia watched as the young man before her stared sadly and lovingly down at the shell of a woman who had once been his mother. She heard a slight rustling coming from the other side of the room and she quietly went to check on the other patient. She pulled the curtain away gently.

She heard a sharp intake of breath and turned to see Draco Malfoy frozen at his mother's bedside. His eyes staring at the only other patient in the room. To her surprise the patient was staring right back. A look of intense concentration on his face, almost as though he were trying to pass along some message through his look.

'What is he doing here?' Draco asked quietly without taking his eyes from the poor man.

'Brought in the same time as your mother actually. Why? Do you know him?' she asked, honestly curious.

She saw his shoulders tighten. 'I did once. A long time ago in another life,' he whispered as he approached the young man in the bed.

She didn't know what to make of this so she tried to lighten the air in the room. 'Well look at that Master Zabini. Looks like you have a visitor as well!' But neither one heard her. They were intent on staring into each other's eyes as though a battle were being waged.

Suddenly Draco gasped and stumbled back away from the bed, his breathing coming in deep gasps. A small smile of relief passed over Blaise's face before his eyes rolled up and he passed out.

'What the-' Patricia began but was cut off as Draco spun towards her. He looked almost feral. Something he had seen in Blaise's eyes had lit a fire in him and it was waiting to burst from his eyes. 'Are you alright Mister Malfoy?'

'What?' he asked and shook his head as though reigning himself in. 'Oh yes sorry. Look I must leave now, but I need you to do something for me.'

If his words shocked her, she didn't show it. She had seen to many things in her lifetime. Too many things. 'Of course Mister Malfoy,' she responded.

'Look after them. Both of them,' and his eyes shifted quickly between the two patients. His voice was hard.

'Well of course I will. It is my job after all,' she replied confusedly.

'I know, I know, just promise me,' he practically begged.

'Yes, yes I promise,' she said unsure of why she felt the need to help this young man.

'Thank you,' he said. And without another word or another glance at any of the occupants of the room he strode out of the room, his cloak billowing. Patricia Alabaster followed. It had been a very confusing week.

As they left the room a single tear rolled unseen down Narcissa's face. She smiled, a sad smile, but a smile none-the-less.

Draco did not care that they were staring at him again. In fact this time they had a reason. Draco was running as fast as he could down the hallways trying to put as much distance between himself and the room he had just left. He had to get out of this building. He had to leave.

He had known seeing his mother again would be difficult but the surprise at seeing Blaise had hit him deep. The truth he had found in Blaise's mind made him push his legs faster. He had to get back to Remus's. He had to tell them what he had learned.

After they had left the Weasley's house after the funeral yesterday, they had all gone back to Remus's flat for the evening. Remus kindly offered him the guest room this time and Draco had gladly accepted, leaving the others to stay by the fire to talk about Ron long into the night. He himself had done some thinking. They had all agreed that the next day they would gather and plan out their next step. Before that though, Draco had one place he had to visit first. He had to come here to see his mother. He had to see her one last time, just in case he really did wind up dead.

So he had left early that morning, careful not to wake up Potter who he had, disturbingly enough, found in bed next to him when had awoken this morning. Now however he raced on and soon found himself back on the streets of Muggle London. A flicker of movement caught his eye and he looked up to see a dark figure leaning against the far wall several feet in front of him.

'Draco,' came his emotionless voice.

'Macnair,' Draco said coldly.

'Enjoy your visit?' he asked.

Draco noticed that Macnair made no move for his wand. Draco figured he must have been sent only to watch over the hospital and to see who visited Narcissa and then report back to his master.

'Pleasant enough,' Draco replied.

'Well I am positive they both enjoyed your little visit,' Macnair said as he fingered his wand as though he wished it were his axe.

Draco suddenly smiled a sinister smile and Macnair seemed momentarily surprised.

'You tell him we're coming. You make sure he knows. And if I were you, I would get out now,' Draco warned before turning his back on the Deatheater and walking a few more steps away from the magical wards around St. Mungo's.

'And why should I do that?' Macnair asked, no amusement in his voice.

Draco felt a cold smile form on his lips. Without turning around he said, 'Because we are coming to kill you all.' And with that Draco disappeared with a pop.

Macnair picked himself up off the wall and walked away from the wards. 'Yeah well, we'll see who kills who first,' he said to the cold air and emptiness around him. He took position and prepared to apparate. He had been told to watch. He had watched and now he must report back. Plans had to be made.

Love, Ally

'Truths unseen are the purest truths to behold.'